Dispensing device.



A. LARSEN. DISPENSING DEVICE. APPLICATION men JUNE Is, 1,914.

1,218,092. Patented Mar. 6,1917.

yrrola/vyqs nu: nonn/s hum s 0a., momma, wumnammnl a ARNOLD LAnsEiv; or cnnvnnnlvn, OHIO.

DISPENSING DEV-ICE.)

Specification of Letters Patent.

, Patented Mar.'6, 1917.

Application filed. June. 15, 19,14. Serial 1510. 845,058.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, Amvonn LARSEN, a subject of the King of Norway, residing at- Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Dispensing Devices, of which the following is a full, clear,

and exact description, reference being had to,

the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to dispensing devices, and more particularlyto deviceswhereby material within a receptacle may be removed therefrom withoutfthe necessity for exposing the contents thereof and wherebythe device is rendered sanitary; also to provide a device .or apparatus of this character which shall be convenient of operation and one wherein the dispensing may be accomplished through a comparatively inexpensive construction. With the foregoing and other objects in view, tobe referredto here: inafter, the invention may be defined'further as consisting of the combinations of elements embodied in the claims hereto annexed and illustrated in the drawings forming part hereof, wherein Figure 1' represents a perspective view of a dispensing device constructed in accordance with my invention; and Fig. 2 is an enlarged central vertical section through the samei While the device or apparatus illustrated herein is capable of more general application, it is particularly well adapted for use in restaurants, for the purpose of enabling the patrons to serve themselves with sugar. As is well known, the sugar bowl as ordinarily employed in restaurants, lunch rooms, etc., is devoid of a cover and, even if a cover. should be provided, it is apt to. be removed by the patrons, therebyleaving the contents exposedto the atmosphere as. well. as to, flies and other .insects. Furthermore, even though a special spoon be provided'for serving the sugar, .many patrons use the spoons with which they are provided and often in sert such spoons, in a moist condition, in the sugar within the bowl. 'Furthermore, in

lunch rooms where it is impossible to keep the patrons under close, supervision, it is common for the patrons to empty the contents of thesugar bowl into a bag or other receptacle. By the construction and arrangement of the parts illustrated herein, I am able to avoid the objectionable features noted above and also prevent a great waste of sugar,through the reckless dipping into thebowls which is practised by some patrons, where the dispensing operation is rendered toosimple and convenient.

Describing by reference characters the various parts illustrated herein, 1 denotes the receptacle which, for purposes of illustration, may be: a sugar bowl. This receptacle 'may be of any preferred shape, al-' though one with a rounded. or sloping bot tom. is. preferred, because of the accessibility which it. affords for the ladle asthe levelof thesugar. falls within the receptacle.

At a suitable distance above thebottompreferably a consider-able distance inyorder that the. receptaclemay have a large capacity therebelow, a spout is provided. This spout, indicated at 2, extends upwardly through the side wall of. the receptacle and projects toward the central portion of, the cover. The spout ispreferably elliptical in section, having its minor axis in a radial line extending to the central portion of the receptacle which, in the embodiment shown herein,.is

circular in cross section. This provides a. transversely elongated horizontal mouth 3,"

facilitating the dispensing of the sugar into the spout by the ladle. The discharge mouth of the spout is preferably in a vertical plane andis covered by a 11(14, which is pivoted to the upper side of the spout in any convenient manner, whereby .a gravity-closing valve is provided. As shown herein, the lid is pivoted to a strap 5 which is soldered to the top ofthe, spout and. to the upper wall of the receptacle, being providedwith a radially extending flange 6 at its upper end, located above. the top ofthe. receptacle and formin one of the keepers for the cover 7. I

, Cooperating with the flange 6 are two other keepers 8 and 9. The keeper 8 is constructed similarly to the, keeper 6, and consists of a strap which is soldered to the body of the receptacle and provided with a sub,- stantially horizontal flange. the upper end thereofprojecting radially inwardly above the top of the receptacle, The keeper 9 is of the same shape as theke'eper 8,.but differs therefrom in that it is detachably secured to the receptacle by means of a, slot 10in the vertical body thereof through which there,

extends a loop or staple ll, said loop or staple being adapted to receive the hasp of the lock 12. The slot isin substantial engagement with the sides and ends of the staple, whereby the keeper is maintained in operative relation to the cover when locked in place. With the construction illustrated, it will be necessary to use at least three keepers in order to prevent the unauthorized removal of the cover, the three keepers being preferably spaced equidistantly.

In the wall of the receptacle, and preferably above and opposite the mouth of the spout 2, there is provided'an opening 13 through which the handle 14 of a ladle 15 extends. The side wall is deflected upwardly and outwardly at 16, whereby the opening 13 is located outside of the wall of the receptacle, While suflicient clearance is provided between the handle of the ladle and the side wall to permit it to enter any part of the mass of sugar (or other material) 17 therebeneath.

For the purpose of enabling the operator to dispense the sugar, a section of the receptacle will be of transparent material. For this purpose, I prefer to make the cover 7 of glass.

With the parts constructed and arranged as described, it is believed that the operation will be apparent. The operator places a mug (or other receptacle) 18 beneath the spout 2-, grasps the handle 14 of the ladle, dips the ladle into the material 17 and empties the contents of the ladle into the mouth 3 of the spout 2. The arrangement is such that a substantially universal-joint movement is permitted between the ladle handle and the receptacle and the ladle is longitudinally adjustable toward and from the spout and toward and from the bottom and sides of the receptacle. The material dumped into the spout 2 falls down the same and is discharged into the receptacle 18, the lid 4 swinging outwardly by the weight of the material to permit this action and closing automatically by gravity when the spout is empty.

By the construction illustrated and described herein, the contents of the receptacle may be delivered into the spout but this operation, although suiiiciently convenient, requires such time as will generally prevent the operator from removing an undue proportion of the contents of the receptacle. Furthermore, because of the fact that the cover is fastened upon the receptacle, it will be impossible for the operator to take a wet spoon and dip it into the sugar (or other material) within the receptacle. Furthermore, because of the inconvenience of emptying the receptacle, it will be practically impossible for the operator to pour the contents into a bag or other receptacle.

It will be observed that the handle 14: is rounded and is substantially uniform in cross section'throughout its length. This enables the ladle to be moved inwardly and outwardly and to be given a lateral move ment in any of the different positions which it may occupy within the receptacle. Be-

cause of the necessity or desirability for rotating the ladle, the operating end 141 of the handle is preferably round, or spherical. Also the spoon is necessarily made so as to be separable at some point, both for purposes of original construction and for subsequent cleaning, this being preferably accomplished by forming the bowl with a threaded boss 20, screwed into an opening in the end of the handle 14. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a device of the kind described the combination with a receptacle having a spout at one side and an opening at the opposite side, said receptacle having inwardly projecting members upon its. upper edge at definite points, of a ladle adapted to rest within said receptacle, the handle thereof extending through the opening in said receptacle, a transparent cover resting upon the top of said receptacle and fitting beneath the inwardly projecting members, and a detachable locking device connected with said receptacle and adapted to maintain said transparent cover in engagement with said projections.

2. In a device of the kind described the combination-with a receptacle having a discharge spout extending from one side thereof, said receptacle having an opening in the side substantially opposite the discharge spout thereof, a gravity closed valve at the outer end of said spout, said receptacle having inwardly projecting members upon its upper edge at definite points, a transparent cover resting upon said receptacle and beneath said inwardly projecting members, a detachable locking device adapted to beconnected to said receptacle and also engage i. .r'

.valve carrying strap to position and secure said cover upon said receptacle, one of said straps being detachable from said receptacle.

4. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a receptacle, of a spout discharging from said receptacle, a transparent cover for said receptacle, a gravity closed valveat the outer end of said spout,

a strap to which said valve is connected, a plurality of straps attached to said receptacle adapted in connection with the valve carrying strap to position and secure said cover upon said receptacle, one of said straps being detachable from said receptacle, and means for securing said detachable strap to the receptacle.

5. In a device of the kind described the combination with a receptacle having a discharge spout at one side thereof and an opening in the side of the receptacle substantially opposite the discharge spout, said receptacle having a plurality of spaced inwardly projecting members along the upper edge thereof, a transparent cover resting upon the top of said receptacle and beneath the inwardly projecting members, a locking device detachably connected to said receptacle and adapted to engage said cover and'hold the 15 same in connection with the inwardly projecting members, and a ladle within said receptacle, the handle of said ladle extending through said opening as set forth. I I

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my 20 signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ARNOLD LARSIEN. Witnesses:

HAROLD E. SMITH, WM. GENT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

